China, Guangdong: 67,500 destroyed in HPAI cull

A new outbreak of avian influenza in China's southern province of Guangdong has prompted a cull that destroyed 67,500 birds.

Dr Zhang Zhongqui, Director General of the China Animal Disease Control Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture has reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) a new outbreak of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus.

The virus was discovered on farm in Dongjian, Zhanjiang in Guangdong province, where 6,300 birds were found dead with the disease. Of the 73,800 susceptible birds; 67,500 birds were destroyed.

The outbreak started on the 11th of September. The H5N1 virus was confirmed by the Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, which is an OIE Reference lab.